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Surface mechanical strengthening is an effective way to improve the fatigue performance, among which surface rolling has been vastly utilized for its significant enhancement in fatigue strength. However, traditional rolling process is only suitable for components with rotational symmetry, limiting its application. Herein, a newly developed technology named "spinning rolling (SR)" was developed to strengthen the surfaces of platy components. A common Al alloy, 7075, was selected for verifying the effect. It is found that compared with the most popular technology, shot peening (SP), SR can provide deeper and higher residual stress, lower surface roughness, and comparable hardening layer, and consequently, significantly higher fatigue lives. Accordingly, there is a transition in the fatigue crack source from point‐like to line‐like, confirming a strong crack propagation resistance along depth direction. This study indicates the advantages of the SR technology, providing a greater resistance against fatigue damage of platy components. Highlights: We developed a new surface strengthening technology—spinning rolling (SR), which has wider applicability and better fatigue life extension effect.The fatigue lives of 7075 aluminum alloy plates processed by SR are highly improved by even one order of magnitude at the same stress amplitude.There is a transition in the fatigue crack source from point‐like to line‐like, confirming a strong crack propagation resistance along depth direction due to SR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the major abiotic stresses restricting the development of global agriculture, saline–alkali stress causes osmotic stress, ion poisoning, ROS damage and high pH damage, which seriously restrict sustainable development of fruit industry. Therefore, it is essential to develop and cultivate saline–alkali‐resistant apple rootstocks to improve the yield and quality of apples in China.Based on transcriptome data, MhANR (LOC114827797), which is significantly induced by saline–alkali stress, was cloned from Malus halliana. The physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationships and cis‐acting elements were analysed. Subsequently, the tolerance of MhANR overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana, tobacco, and apple calli to saline–alkali stress was verified through genetic transformation.Transgenic plants contained less Chl a, Chl b and proline, SOD, POD and CAT activity, and higher relative electrical conductivity (REC) compared to WT plants under saline–alkali stress. In addition, expression of saline–alkali stress‐related genes in overexpressed apple calli were also lower than in WT calli, including the antioxidant genes (MhSOD and MhCAT^), the Na+ transporter genes (MhCAX5, MhCAX5, MhSOS1, MhALT1), and the H+‐ATPase genes (MhAHA2 and MhAHA8), while expression of the K+ transporter genes (MhSKOR and MhNHX4) were higher.Expression of MhANR reduced tolerance of A. thaliana, tobacco, and apple calli to saline–alkali stress by regulating osmoregulatory substances, chlorophyll content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and expression of saline–alkali stress‐related genes. This research provides a theoretical basis for cultivating apple rootstocks with effective saline–alkali stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various modeling studies have examined the climatic effects of either the Central American Seaway or the Indonesian seaway. The co‐existence of these two tropical seaways may have a greater influence than the existence of a single seaway. Although the dual seaway situation is closer to that reconstructed during Miocene/Pliocene, relevant studies remain scarce. Here, we investigate the co‐effects of dual tropical seaway changes on the Pacific circulation through a set of sensitivity experiments. Our results show that the combined shallow opening of tropical seaways can generate an active Pacific meridional overturning circulation and maintain strong upwelling conditions along the equatorial Pacific, which may have helped favor a "biogenic bloom" during the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Moreover, the logically successive closure of the tropical seaways can provide patterns of zonal sea surface temperature gradients that are similar to those recorded in the equatorial Pacific from the late Miocene to the Pliocene. Plain Language Summary: During the late Miocene and the Pliocene, changes in the Central American and the Indonesian seaways geometry are very important for ocean circulation and global climate. Various modelling studies have examined the separate effects of these two tropical seaways, especially their link to the onset of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets through changes in the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and associated heat and moisture transport. Although the existence of dual tropical seaways is closer to the reality, there are very scarce modelling studies exploring the co‐effects of dual tropical seaway changes, especially on the Pacific ocean circulation. Here we provide the results of modelling study on this issue. Our results show that the combined shallow opening of tropical ways can generate an active Pacific meridional overturning circulation (i.e., absent in modern conditions) by which the meridional and zonal sea surface temperature gradient in the Pacific largely reduce. In contrast, a deeper opening of tropical seaways can not produce these changes in the Pacific ocean circulation. This study provides insights into and a better understanding of the role of tropical seaways in shaping the Pacific climate and highlights the importance of the sill depth of each seaway. Key Points: The co‐effects of opening of two tropical seaways on the Pacific circulation are investigated with climate modelShallow opening of tropical seaways can generate an active Pacific meridional overturning circulation, whilst a deeper condition can notThe stepwise closure of the tropical seaways can provide similar‐to‐record patterns of zonal sea surface temperature gradients [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in the growth, development, morphogenesis, signal transduction, and stress response in plants. The ICE (Inducer of CBF expression)‐CBF (C‐repeat binding factor)‐COR (Cold‐regulated gene) regulatory cascade is an important signalling pathway in plant response to low temperature stress, and it remains unknown whether this pathway is regulated by miRNAs.In this study, high‐throughput sequencing was employed for predicting and identifying the miRNAs that were likely to target the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway in Eucalyptus camaldulensis. A novel ICE1‐targeting miRNA, eca‐novel‐miR‐259‐5p (nov‐miR259), was further analysed.A total of 392 conserved miRNAs and 97 novel miRNAs were predicted, including 80 differentially expressed miRNAs. Of these, 30 miRNAs were predicted to be associated with the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway. The full‐length of mature nov‐miR259 was 22 bp and its precursor gene was 60 bp in length, with a typical hairpin structure. The RNA ligase‐mediated 5′ amplification of cDNA ends (5′‐RLM‐RACE) and Agrobacterium‐mediated tobacco transient expression assays demonstrated that nov‐miR259 could cleave EcaICE1 in vivo. Moreover, qRT‐PCR and Pearson's correlation analysis further revealed that the expression levels of nov‐miR259 were almost significantly negatively correlated with those of its target gene, EcaICE1, and the other genes in the ICE‐CBF‐COR pathway.We first identified the nov‐miR259 as a novel ICE1‐targeting miRNA, and the nov‐miR259‐ICE1 module may be involved in regulating the cold stress response in E. camaldulensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of humidity change on spore release of the Nematodontae Polytrichaceae has never been tested experimentally. Similarly, the impact of humidity alterations on structure of the peristome have never been studied.Polytrichum commune Hedw. var. commune from Guizhou Province, China, was selected as the research object to examine effects of simulated wind in the laboratory. By controlling humidity and wind, the mechanism of spore dispersal was revealed.When humidity increased, the size of the peristome and epiphragm enlarged significantly (the peristome has no obvious spatial displacement, unlike the hygroscopic movement of Arthrodontae mosses. Thus, we named it 'sub‐hygroscopic movement'), then recovered to normal size when humidity decreased. When humidity was controlled and wind applied, the scattering of spores gradually decreased as the capsule dried out and finally reached a very low level; when the capsule was wetted or rewetted, the amount of spores released rose and returned to the initial state. Through comparison of moist and dry capsules, only enhanced humidity of the sporophytes led to increases in spore release.The results show that the dispersal of spores was significantly improved in windy conditions and the sub‐hygroscopic movement of the capsule peristome, which ensure the continuity and effectiveness of P. commune reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slag produced in mining and smelting of manganese carbonate ore potentially pollutes the environment and endangers the health of humans and other living organisms.This study investigates the uptake of six heavy metals, Cu, Pb, Mn, Zn, Cr and Cd, by bryophytes and vascular plants growing on manganese carbonate slag in the Houshangou Slag Field near Zunyi City, Guizhou Province, China. Determination of heavy metal uptake in bryophytes and vascular plants may identify species suitable as biomonitors for bioremediation of polluted lands.Eight bryophyte taxa were identified in the study area; among which, Bryum argenteum and Physcomitrium eurystomum were dominant; life forms of bryophytes were predominantly short turfs. Three monocotyledons, all Poaceae, and five dicotyledons were recorded in four families. The highest heavy metal uptake in bryophytes, Mn content by B. argenteum, was more than 25,000 mg·kg−1. Furthermore, determination of heavy metal content in roots, leaves and fruits of six vascular plants demonstrated that each had a unique capacity for heavy metal accumulation: roots, leaves and fruits of similar plant species exhibited varying uptake capacity. Mn content in leaves was recorded in the order: B. davidii > A. tricolor > E. crus‐galli > C. argentea > P. acinosa > C. album.In summary, B. argenteum, Echinochloa crus‐galli and Phytolacca acinosa have strong enrichment capacity for heavy metals. These species could be used for comprehensive treatment of heavy metal pollution in electrolytic Mn slag fields, and for bioremediation of polluted areas associated with Mn mining and processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) is an essential element for plant growth and development. Fe deficiency can trigger leaf chlorosis and reduce fruit yield. Therefore, it is necessary to explore transcription factors in response to Fe deficiency stress.A total of 29 MhR2R3‐MYB transcription factors were identified based on the transcriptome of Malus halliana under Fe deficiency stress. A comprehensive analysis of physical and chemical properties, gene structures, conserved motif composition, evolutionary relationship and chromosome distribution was performed. Subsequently, based on the transcriptome, 14 genes with the most significant expression under Fe deficiency stress were screened for qRT‐PCR verification. Among them,the functional characteristics of MhR2R3‐MYB4 (MD05G1089600) were further studied in Arabidopsis thaliana.Expression of 13 out of these 14 genes was upregulated, only one was downregulated. Maximum upregulation of MhR2R3‐MYB4 under Fe deficiency was 36.39‐fold and 58.21‐fold compared with day 0 in leaves and roots, respectively. Overexpression of MhR2R3‐MYB4 enhanced tolerance to Fe deficiency in A. thaliana and led to multiple biochemical changes: transgenic lines have higher chl a, chl b and Fe2+ content, higher enzyme activity (SOD, POD, CAT and FCR) and lower chlorosis than the wild type in Fe deficiency conditions.We suggest that MhR2R3‐MYB4 plays an important part in Fe deficiency stress, which may contribute to improve Fe deficiency tolerance of apple in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronatine (COR) is a non‐host specific phytotoxin secreted by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato that can induce leaf chlorosis and increase the virulence of pathogens during plant–pathogen interactions. Studies have shown that COR can regulate multiple physiological processes in plants, but its involvement in bacterial pathogenesis and plant growth regulation is not well understood.In this study, transcriptome sequencing was carried out on 4‐week‐old tomato leaves that were either mock‐treated or treated with COR.Transcriptome sequencing led to the identification of 6144 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 4361 genes were downregulated and 1783 genes were upregulated upon COR treatment. To obtain functional information on the DEGs, we annotated these genes using GO and KEGG databases. Functional classification analysis showed that the DEGs were primarily involved in photosynthesis, chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis and phenylpropane metabolism.A total of 23 genes related to chlorophyll biosynthesis had significant changes, of which 22 genes were downregulated and one gene was upregulated, indicating that chlorophyll biosynthesis was inhibited upon COR treatment. A total of 17 photosystem I related genes and 22 photosystem II related genes involving 20 protein subunits were also downregulated. In the JA synthesis pathway, 25 genes were up regulated, and six genes were downregulated in COR treated samples. COR was also involved in the regulation of multiple secondary metabolites. The identified DEGs will help us better understand the virulence effects and physiological functions of COR and provide a theoretical basis for breeding resistance into economically important crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important meat‐quality trait of pigs, which influences pork's shearing force, hydraulics, tenderness and juicy flavor. However, to achieve a higher percentage of lean meat, pigs with lower backfat thickness (BF) are intensively selected for, which may lead to a reduction in pork quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to locate loci that affect IMF without changing BF. A single‐step GWAS was performed on 950 Duroc pigs genotyped by a 50K SNP chip in order to detect genomic variants relevant to IMF and BF. The significant SNPs detected were afterwards divided into a BF subset (seven SNPs), an IMF subset (11 SNPs) and a subset of both traits (12 SNPs), according to their P‐value and LD. After SNP and QTL annotation, our results indicated that SSC1: 167938652, 166363826, 164829874 and 167171587 might be associated with IMF without changing BF. In the subset of both traits, we found that the combined effect of ALGA0006602 (SSC1: 159538854) and 12784636 (SSC1: 160773437) might improve the IMF without changing BF. Our gene annotation result showed that TLE3, ITGA11, SMAD6, PAQR5 and [RNF152A/G × MC4RA/A] genes might affect IMF independently of BF. We believe that the SNPs and genes identified in this study will be valuable for the future molecular breeding of IMF in Duroc pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planting of seedlings is the most effective measure for vegetation restoration. However, this practice is challenging in desert ecosystems where water and nutrients are scarce. Calligonum mongolicum is a sand‐fixing pioneer shrub species, and its adaptive strategy for nitrogen (N) deposition and drought is poorly understood.Thus, in a pot experiment, we studied the impacts of four N levels (0, 3, 6, 9 gN·m−2·year−1) under drought or a well‐watered regime on multiple eco‐physiological responses of 1‐year‐old C. mongolicum seedlings.Compared to well‐watered conditions, drought considerably influenced seedling growth by impairing photosynthesis, osmolyte accumulation and activity of superoxide dismutase and enzymes related to N metabolism. Nitrogen addition improved the productivity of drought‐stressed seedlings, as revealed by increased water use efficiency, enhanced superoxide dismutase and nitrite reductase activity and elevated N and phosphorus (P) levels in seedlings. Nevertheless, the addition of moderate to high levels of N (6–9 gN·m−2·year−1) impaired net photosynthesis, osmolyte accumulation and nitrate reductase activity. N addition and water regimes did not markedly change the N:P ratios of aboveground parts; while more biomass and nutrients were allocated to fine roots to assimilate the insufficient resources. Soluble protein in assimilating shoots might play a vital role in adaptation to the desert environment.The response of C. mongolicum seedlings to N addtion and drought involved an interdependency between soluble protein and morphological, physiological and biochemical processes. These findings provide an important reference for vegetation restoration in arid lands under global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of erbium addition at different ratios (0.2 wt.%, 0.4 wt.%, 0.6 wt.%) on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of the Al−Si‐Mg−Cu alloy have been investigated. The results show that adding erbium can refine the primary α‐aluminum grains in the as‐cast alloys to a diverse extent. In addition, the coarse and long plate‐like eutectic silicon can be modified into a fine short rod‐like structure, and the distribution of eutectic silicon can be optimized. During the solidification of the alloy, erbium and other elements will form primary erbium‐rich precipitates of different sizes and shapes, including primary erbium‐silicon‐rich and erbium‐copper‐silicon‐rich precipitates, which can change the distribution of solute atoms and promote the evolution of microstructure. But the coarse primary precipitates will embrittle the alloys and consume more solute atoms (erbium, copper, magnesium), having a certain inhibitory effect. After heat treatment, the solid solution decomposes to form secondary Al3Er precipitates, which further strengthens the alloy. In particular, the alloy with the highest erbium content shows the best comprehensive tensile properties at as‐cast and heat‐treatment conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sinkhole ecosystem, as a refuge for plant diversity, has been subjected to intensive exploitation, leading to ecosystem destruction of sinkholes in China. Understanding the responses of bryophyte distribution to destruction of the sinkhole environment are crucial to implementing protection measures for bryophyte diversity. • Haolong sinkhole in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, the third largest sinkhole in the world, was selected as the study area. The Wilson Shmida index was used to analyse bryophyte species diversity; a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was used to reveal species vertical distribution of bryophytes, the Single and Multiple Species Distribution Models (SSDM, MSDM) were used for analysis of the relationship between bryophyte species distribution, environmental factors and heavy metals. • A total of 183 species from 74 genera in 36 families of bryophytes were collected from Haolong sinkhole, of which 26 species are endemic to China. Bryophyte species diversity was ranked in the order: agricultural section < forest section < grassland. In the vertical direction, bryophyte distribution was divided into point, disjunctive and continuous distributions using the GLM. The SSMA and MSDM indicated that bryophyte species of each of these three distributions can be divided into a temperature-slope zone, light-depth-pH-humidity zone, Pb (B)-Hg (B) zone and mixed heavy metals zone according to the effect of environmental factors and heavy metals such as As. • Environmental factors or heavy metals, such as As, in Haolong sinkhole effectively cooperate in bryophyte distribution. An effective way to protect bryophyte diversity, in particular species endemic to China in the sinkhole environment, is through education and involvement of the local villagers to minimize further damage to the sinkhole environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of postseismic deformation following the 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake, including previously unpublished data from 13 continuous GPS stations installed in southern Tibet shortly after the earthquake. We use variational Bayesian Independent Component Analysis (vbICA) to extract the signal of postseismic deformation from the GPS time series, revealing a broad displacement field extending >150 km northward from the rupture. Kinematic inversions and dynamic forward models show that these displacements could have been produced solely by afterslip on the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) but would require a broad distribution of afterslip extending similarly far north. This would require the constitutive parameter (a − b)σ to decrease northward on the MHT to ≤0.05 MPa (an extreme sensitivity of creep rate to stress change) and seems unlikely in light of the low interseismic coupling and high midcrustal temperatures beneath southern Tibet. We conclude that the northward reach of postseismic deformation more likely results from distributed viscoelastic relaxation, possibly in a midcrustal shear zone extending northward from the seismogenic MHT. Assuming a shear zone 5–20 km thick, we estimate an effective shear‐zone viscosity of ~3·1016–3·1017 Pa·s over the first 1.12 postseismic years. Near‐field deformation can be more plausibly explained by afterslip itself and implies (a − b)σ ~ 0.5–1 MPa, consistent with other afterslip studies. This near‐field afterslip by itself would have re‐increased the Coulomb stress by ≥0.05 MPa over >30% of the Gorkha rupture zone in the first postseismic year, and deformation further north would have compounded this reloading. Key Points: New GPS data show that postseismic deformation of the 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake extended far northward into southern TibetKinematic and dynamic models suggest that the northward reach of deformation likely reflects the influence of viscoelastic relaxationAfterslip likely dominated postseismic deformation in the near field, transferring stress back to the (relocked) Gorkha rupture zone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a crucial regulator of calcium homeostasis and bone remodeling, and the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R) belongs to a class II G‐protein‐coupled receptor. PTH activates PTH1R, which mediates catabolic and anabolic processes in the skeleton. However, the functional mechanism of PTH1R has not been thoroughly elucidated in organisms. This study identified a 51 bp indel mutation in the first intron of the PTH1R gene and elucidated the effect of this gene mutation on the growth and carcass traits in chickens. The results indicated that the 51 bp indel was significantly associated with subcutaneous fat thickness, abdominal fat weight, body weight and daily gain over 4–8 weeks. Furthermore, we found that PTH1R gene expression was highest in the kidney and liver tissues, and it showed a trend of decreasing in leg and breast muscle tissues at different embryonic stages. In addition, we examined the expression of the three genotypes of the PTH1R gene in the liver, breast muscle and abdominal fat and found that the II genotype was significantly higher than the DD and ID genotypes. In summary, these findings suggest that the PTH1R gene can serve as a potential molecular marker for chicken breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments using a THz pump and an X‐ray probe at an X‐ray free‐electron laser (XFEL) facility like the Linac Coherent Light Source II (LCLS II) require frequency‐tunable (3 to 20 THz), narrow bandwidth (∼10%), carrier‐envelope‐phase‐stable THz pulses that produce high fields (>1 MV cm−1) at the repetition rate of the X‐rays and are well synchronized with them. In this paper, a two‐bunch scheme to generate THz radiation at LCLS II is studied: the first bunch produces THz radiation in an electromagnet wiggler immediately following the LCLS II undulator that produces X‐rays from the second bunch. The initial time delay between the two bunches is optimized to compensate for the path difference in THz transport. The two‐bunch beam dynamics, the THz wiggler and radiation are described, as well as the transport system bringing the THz pulses from the wiggler to the experimental hall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bauxite mining on karst generates numerous ecological and environmental problems, including metal pollution, water and soil erosion and destruction of vegetation. Among these, the most important environmental problem is soil metal pollution. Higher plants have a great ability to adsorb metals and can be used as biological indicators. However, the study of bioindicators for soil contamination in karst bauxite is not clear.Plants and their soil were collected from an abandoned karst bauxite area at Shangdong, Guizhou Province, southwestern China. Plants were collected and identified as Pteris vittata, Pinus massoniana, Miscanthus floridulus, Coriaria nepalensis, Artemisia argyi and Senecio scandens.The content of metals in plant roots were in the order: P. vittata > M. floridulus > C. nepalensis, other plants roots had no consistent pattern. Concentrations of metal in plants (P. vittata and M. floridulus) and soil were: soil > root > leaf > stem. Levels of metals in soil samples easily exceeded background values, indicating that soil had been contaminated. Al and Fe were highest in soil samples of P. vittata, with a good correlation.Results show that the metal content determined in plants is relatively high, particularly in P. vittata. Data also suggest that P. vittata colonies were able to tolerate and accumulate high levels of metal elements, which evidences their suitability for use as bioindicatord of soil metal contamination caused by mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Microtia is a congenital malformation of the external ear that can be observed in many species including sheep. However, the genetic basis of microtia still remains unclear. Here, a GWAS was conducted to investigate the genetic basis underlying microtia. A total of 55 samples from 26 microtia and 29 normal animals were genotyped with Illumina OvineHD BeadChip. The strongest significant SNP was identified on OAR6, approximating the evolutionarily conserved region of the HMX1 gene, which is related to congenital malformations of the external ear in other species such as cattle and rats. Sequencing an evolutionarily conserved region surrounding HMX1 revealed a duplication of 76 bp, which is concordant with microtia, suggesting a dominant inheritance mode. Identification of this causal mutation in the HMX1 gene indicates the role of this particular gene in the development of the external ear and provides a genetic marker for selection against microtia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral fluconazole is used to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis during pregnancy. However, there are concerns regarding the pregnancy outcomes following exposure to fluconazole.Objectives: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes associated with exposure to oral fluconazole during the first trimester of pregnancy.Search Strategy: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies published from inception until April 2019.Selection Criteria: Relevant English-language citations using the terms oral fluconazole and pregnancy in humans.Data Collection: Two reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed study quality.Main Results: Oral fluconazole use during the first trimester of pregnancy was marginally associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% CI 0.99-1.2, P = 0.088; n = 6 studies), whereas in the subgroup analysis, this association existed only for high-dose users (>150 mg) (OR 1. 19, 95% CI 1.01-1.4, P = 0.039; n = 2). Exposure to fluconazole also increased the risk of heart malformations (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09-1.57, P = 0.003; n = 4), cardiac septal defects (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.67, P = 0.047; n = 3), and tetralogy of Fallot (OR 3.39 95% CI 1.71-6.74, P < 0.001; n = 2) in the offspring. In addition, exposure to fluconazole was significantly associated with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion (OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.38-2.88, P < 0.001; n = 3).Conclusions: Oral fluconazole use during the first trimester of pregnancy appears to be associated with heart malformations and spontaneous abortion, but a causal link cannot be proven.Tweetable Abstract: Oral fluconazole during the first trimester of pregnancy may be associated with unfavourable pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review covers the characteristics of pyrolysis and catalytic pyrolysis bio‐oils by focusing on the fundamental factors that determine bio‐oil upgradability. The abundant works on the subject of bio‐oil production from lignocellulosic biomass were studied to establish the essential attributes of the bio‐oils for assessment of the oil stability and upgradability. Bio‐oils from catalytic pyrolysis processes relating to catalysts of different compositions and structures are discussed. A general relationship between the higher heating value and the oxygen content in the catalytic pyrolysis oils exists, but this relationship does not apply to the thermal pyrolysis oil. Reporting bio‐oil yield is meaningful only when the oxygen content of the oil is measured because the pyrolytic oil stability is mainly determined by the oxygen content. Isoenergy plot that associates bio‐oil yield with oxygen content is presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trait–fitness relationship influences the strength and direction of floral evolution. To fully understand and predict the evolutionary trajectories of floral traits, it is critical to disentangle the direct and indirect effects of floral traits on plant fitness in natural populations.We experimentally quantified phenotypic selection on floral traits through female fitness and estimated the casual effects of nectar robbing with different nectar robbing intensities on trait–fitness relationships in both the L‐ (long‐style and short‐anther phenotype) and S‐morph (short‐style and long‐anther phenotype) flowers among Primula secundiflora populations.A larger number of flowers and wider corolla tubes had both direct and indirect positive effects on female fitness in the P. secundiflora populations. The indirect effects of these two traits on female fitness were mediated by nectar robbers. The indirect effect of the number of flowers on female fitness increased with increasing nectar robbing intensity. In most populations, the direct and/or indirect effects of floral traits on female fitness were stronger in the S‐morph flowers than in the L‐morph flowers. In addition, nectar robbers had a direct positive effect on female fitness, but this effect varied between the L‐ and S‐morph flowers.These results show the potential role of nectar robbers in influencing the trait–fitness relationships in this primrose species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal water storage fluctuations are critical for evaluating water scarcity linked to climate forcing and human intervention. Here we compare seasonal changes in land total water storage anomalies using seven global hydrologic and land surface models (WGHM, PCR‐GLOBWB, and five GLDAS models) to GRACE satellite data in 183 river basins globally. This work builds on previous analysis that focused on total water storage anomaly trends. Results show that most models underestimate seasonal water storage amplitudes in tropical and (semi)arid basins and land surface models generally overestimate amplitudes in northern basins. Some models (CLM‐5.0 and PCR‐GLOBWB) agree better with GRACE than others. Causes of model‐GRACE discrepancies are attributed to missing storage compartments (e.g., surface water and/or groundwater) and underestimation of modeled storage capacities in tropical basins and to variations in modeled fluxes in northern basins. This study underscores the importance of considering water storage, in addition to water fluxes, to improve global models. Plain Language Summary: We are relying more and more on global models to understand the water cycle, but we need to assess the reliability of model output. In this study we compare seasonal amplitudes in land total water storage from global models with those from GRACE satellite data in river basins globally. We found that seasonal amplitudes in total water storage account for more than half of the total signal, except in semiarid basins. Seasonal amplitudes are highest in tropical basins and lowest in semiarid basins. Some models agree better with GRACE than others (CLM‐5.0 and PCR‐GLOBWB). Most models underestimate GRACE‐derived seasonal amplitudes in tropical and semiarid basins but overestimate seasonal amplitudes in northern high latitude basins. The main cause of the discrepancies in tropical basins is likely insufficient storage capacity and lack of surface water inundation to accommodate the large seasonal storage variations. In northern high latitude basins, differences in snow physics and evapotranspiration increase seasonal amplitudes in water storage in newer versions of land surface models, overestimating GRACE‐derived seasonal amplitudes and reducing agreement with GRACE relative to earlier versions. Reliable models of seasonal variations in water storage are critical for assessing water scarcity, estimating response to climate extremes, and managing water resources. Key Points: Modeled seasonal amplitudes are underestimated in tropical and semiarid basins and overestimated in northern basins relative to GRACEModel‐GRACE discrepancies are attributed to insufficient storage capacities in tropical basins and biases in fluxes in northern basinsThis study highlights the value of using water storage, in addition to traditional water flux, in assessing and improving global models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the influence of the sawtooth side edges on the cutting force and analyzes the functions of the side edges in wood sawing by separating the total cutting force into the force from the main edge and the side edges. Birch (Betula spp.) is used as the material for conducting the experiment. The influence of the sawtooth side edges with different radial clearance angles on the cutting force was studied by comparing closed cutting with open cutting for different cutting thicknesses, cutting speeds, and directions using a single sawtooth. The cutting force from the side edges accounts for 4.6 % to 16.9 % of the total cutting force when the sawing kerf is 1.6 mm. As the radial clearance angle increases or the cutting thickness decreases, the cutting force from the side edges and the proportion of the force from the side edges decrease. The cutting force from the side edges increases with an increase in the cutting speed but the cutting speed does not have a clear influence on the cutting force from the side edges. For the same radial clearance angle, the cutting force from the side edges is the largest for the (0°–90°), followed by the (90°–0°) and the (90°–90°). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a transcriptional coactivator, Yorkie (Yki) is a major downstream target of the Hippo signalling pathway to regulate the organ size during animal development and regeneration. Previous microarray analysis in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has shown that genes associated with the Hippo pathway were primarily expressed in gonads and imaginal discs. The RNA‐interference‐mediated silencing of Yki at the early wandering stage delayed B. mori development and ovary maturation, whereas baculovirus‐mediated overexpression at the late larval instar facilitated organ growth and accelerated metamorphosis. Here, we employed CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated mutagenesis to investigate the function of Yki in B. mori (BmYki) at the embryonic and early larval stages. Knocking out of BmYki led to reduced body size, moulting defects and, eventually, larval lethality. Sequence analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 mutants exhibited an array of deletions in BmYki. As a critical downstream effector of the Hippo kinase cassette, silencing of BmYki at the embryonic stage is indispensable and the consequence is lethal. Given that the Hippo signalling pathway is evolutionarily conserved, Yki has the potential to be a novel molecular target for genetic‐based pest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to develop formulations to deliver physiological lipids into skin in an attempt to repair defective barrier function. Methods: Physiological cholesterol and linoleic acid were incorporated into basic cream and non‐ionic cream to prepare skin repair formulations. Homogeneity and storage stability of the developed creams were examined by polarized light microscopy. Ex vivo evaluation was conducted using lipid‐deficient skin samples and confocal Raman microspectroscopy. A 7‐day in vivo study was performed on volunteers to study the repairing efficacy. Results: Homogeneous texture was seen in the prepared skin repair formulations. The application of the creams led to substantially increased lipid levels compared to the reference in the lipid‐deficient skin in ex vivo study. Twice‐a‐day application of the skin repair creams provided a reinforcement of the skin barrier as transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was significantly decreased. Conclusion: The skin repair creams showed excellent efficacy in skin recovery. They have great potentials for treating impaired skin barrier associated with depletion of lipids in stratum corneum. Application of the creams lead to substantially increased lipid levels in the lipid‐deficient skin in and provided a reinforcement of the skin barrier as transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was significantly decreased. The skin repair creams showed excellent efficacy in skin recovery. They have great potentials for treating impaired skin barrier associated with depletion of lipids in stratum corneum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase of tin content in tin bronze, the rise of δ phase made the strength, hardness of tin bronze increase and the ductility decrease sharply, that difficult to process. In this paper, the Cu12Sn2Ni alloy was prepared by centrifugal casting, the microstructure and phase formation before and after heat treatment were observed by x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the as‐cast sample microstructure was composed of equiaxed grains rather than coarse dendrites. centrifugal casting inhibits tin diffusion to form metastable phase β′‐Cu13.7Sn. The as‐cast sample had good deformability and its tensile strength and elongation were 381.9 MPa and 12.4 %, respectively, which are higher than the mechanical properties of gravity casting. The tensile strength and elongation of the sample after furnace cooling at 620 °C/8 min are 439.5 MPa and 24.4 %, respectively, the increase was 16.6 % and 85.07 %, compared with the as‐cast samples, due to the solid solution strengthening, the second phase strengthening and the homogenization of the microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: It is well known that both British and American Pekin ducks originated from China. However, the populations differ substantially in production performance, but the genetic changes involved are still poorly understood. Herein, we sequenced 24 individual Pekin ducks (eight from each population) with an average sequencing depth of more than 45× for each population (mean coverage of 6.29 per individual). Among these populations from three different countries, we identified a large number of SNPs and indels as well as many unique population variants, which can be used as population‐specific molecular markers. Genomic comparisons among the three duck populations revealed many candidate genes as well as pathways and Gene Ontology categories that are putatively associated with meat yield in the British population, growth in the American population and brain development in all three populations. These findings will enable a better understanding of the artificial selection history of Pekin ducks and provide a valuable resource for future research on the breeding of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents: The aim of this study was to determine whether local scrotal heating (42°C, for 1 hr) had an effect on the expression of tight junction (TJ)‐associated molecule Occludin in boar testes. Adult boars (Landrace, n = 6) were used and randomly divided into two groups (n = 3 each). Three boars were given local scrotal exposure to 42°C for approximately 1 h with a home‐made electric blanket of controlled temperature as local scrotal heating group, the other three boars received no heat treatment and were left at standard room temperature as control group. After 6 hr, all boars were castrated and the testes were harvested. qRT‐PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to explore the expression and localization of Occludin. qRT‐PCR and Western blotting showed that the protein and mRNA levels of Occludin significantly decreased in local scrotal heating group as compared to the control. Furthermore, immunoreactivity staining of Occludin was localized at the sites of the blood–testis barrier (BTB) and formed an almost consecutive and strong immunoreactivity strand in the control, while Occludin was limited to Sertoli cells (SCs) and no obvious immunoreactivity strand was present in local scrotal heating group. These data indicated that local scrotal heating decreased the expression of TJ‐associated molecule Occludin, which may be involved in heat‐induced spermatogenesis damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Household cleaning products are widely used by the public, but limited data have been obtained on whether their use induces allergic dermatitis in children. Objective: This study investigated the association between exposure to household cleaning products and allergic dermatitis in primary‐school children. Methods: A prospective cohort study of Hong Kong primary‐school children was conducted between 2012 and 2014. A baseline survey was administered to 1812 students who did not have allergic dermatitis. Information on respiratory symptoms, exposure to household chemical cleaning products and other topics was collected using a self‐administered questionnaire. A cumulative chemical burden (CCB) score was calculated for each student by summing the duration of exposure to 14 chemical cleaning products. Principal component analysis was used to identify patterns in the use of these cleaning products. Logistic regression was performed to calculate relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Eighty‐nine (4.9%) of the students surveyed had dermatitis during the follow‐up. However, exposure to individual chemical cleaning products was not found to be associated with the children's allergic dermatitis (all P > 0.05). In contrast to those in the lowest tertile, neither CCB scores in the middle tertile (RR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.67 to 2.00) nor those in the highest tertile (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 0.73 to 2.14) were significantly associated with the risk of allergic dermatitis. The adjusted RR for every 5‐unit increment in CCB score was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.98 to 1.03). Four patterns of cleaning‐product use were derived, but none were found to be associated with the risk of dermatitis (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of household chemical cleaning products is not associated with the risk of dermatitis in primary‐school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a complex variable solution for the effective transport properties of composites with a doubly‐periodic array of fiber pairs. By using the centrosymmetry of the problem, the method of Rayleigh and Natanzon‐Filshtinsky's approach can be simply extended to the problems with two fibers per unit cell. The infinite system constructed in this paper only slightly complicates Rayleigh's system for the problems with one fiber per unit cell. Approximate analytical formulae of the effective transport properties for different fiber‐pair arrays are obtained. The influence of pairwise interaction in fiber pairs on the effective transport properties is discussed in the numerical examples. As a special case of a doubly‐periodic array of fiber pairs, effective transport property of composites with a triangular array of fibers is obtained. The obtained approximate analytical formulae are written in a concise form with good accuracy, thus are convenient for engineering application in most cases, except for those approaching the limit case of percolation when the perfectly conducting fibers become touching. Besides the square array and hexagonal array, the triangular fiber array (similar to carbon atom arrangement in graphene) is another special symmetric fiber array which results into transversely isotropic effective property. Therefore, the present solution for the triangular array is an extension of those for the square array and hexagonal array. The comparison of the results for the three symmetric fiber arrays reveals that the triangular fiber array has the highest conductivity. In addition, accuracy of the present solution is analyzed in the numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-throughput, high-accuracy determination of thermal deformation and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of carbon fibre-epoxy composites using 2D-digital image correlation (2D-DIC) is described. With the aid of a specially designed ultra-stable and high fidelity imaging system, which integrates a high-quality bilateral telecentric lens with monochromatic blue light illumination, surface images of multiple samples heated by a heating furnace can be captured simultaneously. The images of these samples at different temperatures are processed by advanced DIC algorithm to extract the thermal strains and the CTE of isotropic Al alloy, anisotropic unidirectional, and bidirectional carbon fibre-epoxy composites. Pure thermal expansions of these samples obtained after removing the small rigid-body rotations clearly indicate the isotropic and anisotropic expansions of these samples. The well-agreed results with literature values demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method for high-throughput and high-accuracy CTE measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective of the present paper is to derive some useful approximations for estimating the strain‐controlled fatigue properties and cyclic deformation of wrought aluminum alloys from hardness and monotonic tensile properties. A variety of relationships and correlations among monotonic tensile properties, Brinell hardness, cyclic deformation and strain‐controlled fatigue properties are developed for wrought aluminum alloys. A simple method is proposed for prediction of the strain‐life curve requiring only ultimate tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. Prediction capability of the proposed method is evaluated for 25 kinds of wrought aluminum alloys with ultimate tensile strength between 120 MPa and 650 MPa. The proposed method provides good approximations of the strain‐life curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study is to explore the effects of a lipid-lowering drug atorvastatin, a three-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rat model of atherosclerosis (AS) and the possible mechanisms underneath. A high-cholesterol diet was administrated to Sprague-Dawley rats in an attempt to induce an ASED model, which was later confirmed by abdominal aorta histopathology and erectile function evaluation. ASED rats were further assigned to non-treatment group, atorvastatin low-dose treatment group (5 mg kg−1 day−1), high-dose group (10 mg kg−1 day−1) and sildenafil (1.5 mg kg−1 day−1) treatment group. Lipid profile, erectile function, oxidative stress biochemical markers, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and extracellular superoxide dismutase (SODEX) mRNA expression were evaluated after 8-week treatment duration. Erectile function was impaired in AS rat model, which was preserved in atorvastatin and sildenafil intervention groups. The oxidative stress biochemical markers were attenuated, while eNOS and SODEX mRNA expression were restored in atorvastatin and sildenafil groups, which were found to be involved in ED pathogenesis. However, the lipid profile remained unaltered in the treatment group, and it was elevated in ASED rats. This kind of lipid-lowering agent, or atorvastatin, has the utilisation potential in ASED treatment, even before lipid profiles altered. This effect on erectile function preservation of atorvastatin was attributed to its preservation of endothelial function, possibly through amelioration of oxidative stress and improvement in eNOS expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the genetic variants, including SNPs and indels (short insertions or deletions, less than 50 bp in length), in the genomes and genetic structures of five pig populations (in the northern Taihu Lake region, Jiangsu Province) using the genotyping by genome reducing and sequencing ( GGRS) approach. A total of 581 million good reads with an average depth of 11× and an average coverage of 2.16% were used to call variants. In general, 202 106 SNPs and 34 415 indels were obtained, of which 2690 SNPs and 224 indels were capable of inducing protein-coding changes. The genes containing these variants were extracted for functional annotation. The results of gene enrichment analysis revealed that the SNPs under investigation may be associated with reproduction, disease resistance, meat quality and adipose tissue traits, whereas the indels were associated mainly with adipose tissue and disease. Analysis of the genetic structure showed that each population displayed comparable, large differentiations from the others, indicating their uniqueness. In conclusion, the results of our study provide the first genomic overview of the genetic variants and population structures of five Chinese indigenous pig populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the passive muscle tension of the quadriceps muscle heads in male athletes clinically diagnosed with patellar tendinopathy ( PT) with those of healthy controls and explore the interplay between passive muscle tension and patellar tendon stiffness. Between November 2012 and December 2013, 66 male athletes (mean age of 21.1 ± 4.4 years) were examined using supersonic shear wave imaging technology. The passive tension of the vastus lateralis ( VL) and rectus femoris ( RF) muscles and patellar tendon stiffness were assessed. The shear elastic modulus of the VL muscle was increased by 26.5% ( P < 0.001) in the subjects with PT when compared with the controls. Greater passive tension in the VL was associated with higher patellar tendon stiffness ( r = 0.38; P = 0.001). The vastus lateralis muscle of the quadriceps shows increase in passive muscle tension in jumping athletes with patellar tendinopathy. These findings suggest that increase in muscle tension is not similar in the individual muscles of the quadriceps muscle. Traditional stretching of the whole quadriceps muscle might not be targeted to the tight muscle heads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 6 decades after its introduction, the neutron probe (NP) remains one of the most accurate methods for indirect measurement of soil moisture content. Traditionally, the calibration of a NP involves the ratio of the neutron count in the soil to a standard count, which is the neutron count in the fixed environment such as the probe shield or a specially designed calibration tank. The drawback of this count-ratio-based calibration is that the error in the standard count is carried through to all the measurements. An alternative calibration is to use the neutron counts only, not the ratio, with proper correction for radioactive decay and counting time. To evaluate both approaches, the shield counts of a NP used for three decades were analyzed. The results show that the ground surface conditions have a substantial effect on the standard count. The error in the standard count also impacts the calculation of water storage and could indicate false consistency among replicates. The analysis of the shield counts indicates negligible aging effect of the instrument over a period of 26 yr. It is concluded that, by excluding the standard count, the use of the count-based calibration is appropriate and sometimes even better than ratio-based calibration. The count-based calibration is especially useful for historical data when the standard count was questionable or absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced from the metabolic demethylation of dietary methionine. It has gained arising attention for its association with increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and venous thromboembolism. Erectile dysfunction ( ED), especially for vasculogenic ED, is a vascular disorder of cavernosal vascular bed. In this prospective pilot case-control study, we investigated plasma homocysteine levels in 32 ED patients and 20 healthy control men. Related patients characteristics including age, weight, height, marital status, smoking and drinking status, level of education were collected and analysed as well as penile colour Doppler ultrasound parameters. ED patients were further categorised into mild, moderate and severe ED based on 5-item of the International Index of Erectile Function. Higher homocysteine levels were observed in ED patients as compared with controls ( p < .05). A multivariate logistic regression with likelihood ratio test revealed that homocysteine and penile peak systolic blood flow velocity ( PSV) levels posed significant indicators for ED (chi-square of likelihood ratio = 20.42, df = 2, p < .005) as well as moderate and severe ED occurrence (chi-square of likelihood ratio = 28.50, df = 2, p < .005). The threshold value of homocysteine concentration to discriminate ED and control subjects was 12.65 μmol/L by performing receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. These data suggested that elevation of homocysteine levels was associated with an increased risk of ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the sample size of the experimental datasets in calibrating the Weibull parameters for the modified three-parameter Weibull stress framework, so as to enhance the experimental strategy for cleavage assessment of ferritic steels based on a local approach. The present work generates a large number of random and independent subsets from the 'Euro steel' fracture toughness database for the calibration procedure. The calibration of the Weibull parameters utilizes a subset of high-constraint specimens and a subset of low-constraint specimens from the Euro steel database to resolve the uniqueness issue in the calibration procedure reported in previous studies. This investigation reveals strong dependence of the calibrated Weibull modulus on both the constraint differences between the high-constraint subset and the low-constraint subset and the size of the selected subsets. The scale fracture toughness value, however, does not exhibit significant dependence on the constraint difference between the two subsets of specimens. The confidence level of the scale fracture toughness, nevertheless, still exhibits strong dependence on the sample size of the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial patterns of body size are associated with environmental factors like temperature, seasonality, precipitation, resources, and altitude, among the most relevant. Latitudinal size patterns have been extensively studied. Studies on altitudinal gradients of body size, however, are relatively few. Besides, it is still unclear whether there is variation in the relationship between environmental factors and body size of species, or correlations within different altitudes. China provides a good opportunity to assess the altitudinal gradients of body size, because the entire terrain of China changes from high altitude in the west to low altitude in the east, with three natural terrain stages (low: less than 660 m.a.s.l.; medium: 660–2600 m.a.s.l.; and high: more than 2600 m.a.s.l.). Similarly, lizards are distributed across a wide altitudinal range (from −154.31 m to ~6000 m above sea level). We examined 211 lizard species in China and assessed the altitudinal gradients of Chinese lizard body sizes at assemblage and interspecific levels. Piecewise structural equation models (pSEM) were used to investigate the direct and indirect relationships between body size and environmental factors within different terrains (low, medium, and high altitudes). Overall, we found that body size in Chinese lizards decreases with increasing altitude. However, there were variations in the altitudinal gradients and drivers within the three terrain stages. Altitude has both direct (medium and low stages) and indirect (high stages) effects in shaping lizard size. We established that body size increased with increasing altitudes in the low and medium terrain stages. Seasonality had different effects on body size in medium (positively) and low (negatively) stages. However, among the three terrain stages, temperature was consistently negatively correlated with lizard size. Overall, we identified complex patterns and drivers of altitudinal gradients of body size within the three terrain stages, probably due to the different environmental conditions across altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flavone, tricin (5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyflavone), is a valuable secondary metabolite that is common in gramineous plants, including cultivated rice ( Oryza sativa). It can defend the rice plant against infestation by the brown planthopper ( BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stål, one of the most important pests of rice. This study evaluated the tricin concentration in infested and non-infested rice plants. The results of the liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry ( LC- MS/ MS) quantitative analysis showed that the tricin concentration in rice leaves was significantly higher than in the stems and roots. The mass concentration of tricin in the leaves at the leaf stage was significantly higher than at the tiller and booting stages. The relationship between rice variety, BPH resistance and tricin concentration was investigated. There was a significant negative correlation between tricin concentration and the injury severity scores for rice varieties. Moreover, BPH infestation caused variations in tricin concentration among rice plants. High BPH infestation levels can significantly reduce the tricin concentration in rice plants. However, there is no significant effect of the length of infestation times on tricin concentrations in rice leaves. These results suggest that there may be an elicitor in BPH saliva, which is injected into rice plants during BPH infestation and triggers the tricin metabolic system. Future studies need to identify the elicitor and clarify the mechanism underlying tricin reduction in infested rice plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cenchrus pauciflorus (field sandbur) is an annual weed native to South America and Africa that has become an invasive plant in farmland and pastures around the globe. It forms two types of seeds that are different in shape and mass, defined as big seeds (M) and small seeds (P). This study examined effects of salinity and seed type on germination efficiency of C. pauciflorus. Increased concentration of salinity solutions (NaCl, Na2 SO4 and Na2 CO3) reduced germination rate and final germination percentage ( FGP) of both seed types, while prolonging the mean final germination time ( TFG). M seeds tolerated salinity levels below 400 mmol (NaCl), 350 mmol (Na2 SO4) and 300 mmol (Na2 CO3), while P seeds tolerated salinity levels below 350 mmol (NaCl), 250 mmol (Na2 SO4) and 150 mmol (Na2 CO3). Furthermore, M seeds were less sensitive than P seeds, confirmed via increased germination rate (61%, 42% and 40%), FGP (36%, 29% and 26%), and shorter TFG (37%, 19% and 16%) in NaCl, Na2 SO4 and Na2 CO3 solutions respectively. Moreover, the germination threshold values of M and P seeds were 426 and 365 mmol for NaCl, 354 and 264 mmol for Na2 SO4 and 308 and 149 mmol for Na2 CO3 respectively. These results add to our understanding of the germination strategy of different seed types of C. pauciflorus. This information on germination ecology may indicate a potential to invade regions with little or no salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of allergic rhinitis ( AR) and asthma has been increasing, and the comorbidity rates of these diseases are very high. Here, 176 AR patients, 124 patients with comorbid AR and asthma ( AR-A) and 206 healthy Chinese children as controls were included in a case-control study. Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs), miR-146a (rs2910164, rs57095329 and rs6864584), miR-196a2 (rs11614913), miR-499 (rs3746444) and miR-149 (rs2292832), were genotyped. The prevalence of homozygous miR-149 (rs2292832) CC genotype and C allele were considerably increased in AR and AR-A patients, compared with the controls. AR-A group showed higher frequencies of CC genotype and C allele of rs2292832 than AR group. No significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of other mi RNA SNPs was found between the groups. MiR-149 levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs) were significantly lower in CC (variant type) cases compared with TT ( wild-type) cases. In further experiments, PBMCs obtained from the healthy controls with CC, CT and TT genotypes were stimulated by house dust mite extracts, which led to a significant decrease in the levels of miR-149 in PBMCs obtained from CC and TT individuals. This decrease was more pronounced in CC compared with TT cases. Our results demonstrate that miR-149 rs2292832 variant is not only strongly associated with AR and AR-A, but it may lead to an increase in the susceptibility to allergies following the stimulation with an allergen, through the changes in miR149 expression. Additionally, AR patients with CC genotypes were shown to be more susceptible to asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a fully coupled thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) theoretical model, called the TSINGHUA-THERMOSOIL model, which is applicable in saturated soils, was developed based on a non-equilibrium thermodynamic approach (see Groot S, Mazur P. Non-Equilibrium thermodynamics. Amsterdam: North-Holland Pub. Co., 1962). This model simplifies the mathematical description of a THM coupling system to the modeling of a group of migration coefficients and energy functions by means of the non-equilibrium thermodynamic theory. The important concept of granular entropy was introduced for describing the granular fluctuation and the resulting transient elasticity. Therefore, non-elastic mechanical constitutive relations that do not require such concepts as yield surface and flow rule are obtained. The physical process of bound pore water transforming into free water when the temperature rises was taken into consideration for describing the phenomenon of the volumetric compression of normally consolidated and slightly over-consolidated clays under non-isothermal conditions. The behavior of thermal consolidation and drained shear tests at different temperatures for saturated Kaolin clay with different over-consolidation ratios (OCR) were simulated using this model. The effect of the OCR value, the heating rate and temperature cycling on the thermal consolidation and the effect of the temperature on the shear strength were analyzed and compared with existing experimental data. The results showed that the model proposed in this paper can accurately describe the thermal consolidation and the basic law of shearing for saturated soil, which preliminarily proves the validity of the model. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional morphology of eutectic silicon in as-cast Al-20 wt% Si alloys with ultrasonic treatment above liquidus has been investigated in this paper. The results show that ultrasonic treatment above liquidus could not refine the primary silicon phase very well, but is capable of modifying the morphology of eutectic silicon. The fracture of eutectic silicon occurred resulting in both huge reduction of silicon grain sizes and changes of morphology from large plate-like to interconnected thin flake and coral-like. The evolution mechanisms of the eutectic silicon morphology in Al-20 wt% Si alloys with ultrasonic treatment were also preliminarily discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erectile dysfunction ( ED) is a common sequel of pelvic fracture urethral disruption. Those patients with nocturnal erections may respond favourably to sildenafil; however, little is known about the response to sildenafil in patients with absent nocturnal erections. The aim was to evaluate the response to the treatment of sildenafil 50 mg taken once daily in the patients with absent nocturnal erections. From January 2008 to December 2011, a total of 28 patients with absent nocturnal erections were evaluated. We recorded nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity with an erectometer. If nocturnal erections were absent for three nights, patients were administrated sildenafil 100 mg at bedtime and tested again at the fourth night. Penile duplex ultrasound with intracavernous injection was performed to define the cause of ED. All patients received a daily dose of sildenafil 50 mg for 12 weeks. Response to sildenafil treatment was defined as sustained erections allowing vaginal penetration and intercourse. Twenty-three (78%) patients completed the daily sildenafil treatment, and follow-up was available. The nocturnal erections at the fourth night in 13 patients (46.4%) were improved. About 61.5% (8/13) reported effective response to daily sildenafil. The improvement of nocturnal erections induced by sildenafil taken at bedtime might predict the response to sildenafil taken daily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors of pregnancy outcome for infertile couples attending in vitro fertilisation ( IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI) programmes. Infertile couples attending IVF or ICSI procedures were included in this study. Related data including semen parameters and male and female age and body mass index were collected and analysed. The main outcome was clinical pregnancy, defined as an ultrasound detection of foetal heartbeat 6 weeks after embryo transfer. A total of 1316 couples who underwent IVF and 266 who underwent ICSI were recruited for this study. A multivariate logistic regression with likelihood ratio test revealed the following predictors of pregnancy outcome: female age and sperm DNA fragmentation index ( DFI) and acrosomal activity in IVF procedures (chi-square of likelihood ratio = 26.42, d.f. = 3, P < 0.005) and female age and DFI in ICSI procedures (chi-square of likelihood ratio = 18.88, d.f. = 2, P < 0.005). In conclusion, our study indicated that sperm DFI, female age and acrosomal levels have a significant effect on ART pregnancy outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strain-controlled and stress-controlled low-cycle fatigue behaviour of served 12% Cr ferritic-martensitic steel is conducted at room temperature. Continuous softening is observed at both control modes, and the fitting results show that the fatigue properties of 12% Cr steel are not reduced significantly after 230 000 h service at 550 °C/13.7 MPa. Scanning electron microscopy has been employed to investigate the microstructure evolution after long-term service. It is proved that the decomposition of martensite laths structure and the coarsening of carbides at grain/lath boundaries are the main reasons why the pipe bursts after 180 000 h service at 550 °C/17.1 MPa. The fracture under both control modes has been observed by using scanning electron microscopy, and it indicates coarse carbides along grain/lath boundaries are favourable sites for micro-crack nucleation and the secondary cracks along the fatigue striations are formed by the connection of micro-cracks nucleated during fatigue behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use are likely to affect the abundance and functioning of microorganisms in the soil. In China many paddy fields are being converted for vegetable growing. We wished to determine how these changes affected the microbial populations in one particular region in Hunan province, where the climate is subtropical monsoon, as an example. We sampled the soil down to 1 m in several fields: three that were still growing paddy rice, three that had been converted for vegetable growing 2 years earlier and three that had been growing vegetables for 25 years. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction ( qPCR) and terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( T-RFLP) were used to determine the abundance and community composition of nxrA-containing nitrifiers and narG-containing denitrifiers in the soil. The abundances of these organisms depended largely on the amount of organic matter in the soil and decreased with increasing depth, as did the potential nitrification rate ( PNR) and nitrate reductase activity ( NRA). Enzyme activity was significantly correlated with the abundance of nitrogen-cycling bacteria. The change from rice to vegetable growing resulted in more residual nitrate- N in the soil, which correlated more strongly with the abundance of nxrA-containing nitrifiers in the topsoil (0-20 cm) and narG-containing denitrifiers in the deeper soil (80-100 cm). In general, the numbers of nitrogen-cycling microorganisms decreased markedly with increasing depth, but were less affected by the change from rice to vegetable cultivation in the fields investigated. Our results suggest that the abundances of nitrogen-cycling microbial communities are affected more by depth in the soil than by change of land use in these circumstances. Highlights The abundance and function of soil microorganisms change when paddy fields are converted to vegetable growing., Residual nitrate- N in the soil is affected by nitrifiers in topsoil and denitrifiers in the deeper soil., Their abundances depend largely on the amount of organic matter in soil and decrease with increasing depth., The genetic structures of the microorganisms depend more on depth in the soil than on change from rice to vegetable growing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure ( HP) metagreywacke from the Namche Barwa Complex, Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis ( EHS), consists of garnet, biotite, plagioclase, quartz, rutile and ilmenite with or without K-feldspar, sillimanite, cordierite, spinel and orthopyroxene. Two types of metagreywacke are recognized: medium-temperature ( MT) and high-temperature ( HT) types. Garnet in the MT metagreywacke shows significant growth zoning and contains lower MgO than the weakly zoned garnet in the HT metagreywacke. Petrographic observations and phase equilibria modelling for four representative samples indicate that both types of metagreywacke experienced clockwise P-T paths subdivided into three stages: stage I is the pre-peak prograde to pressure peak ( Pmax) stage characterized by progressive increase in P-T conditions. The Pmax conditions are estimated using the garnet composition with maximum CaO, being 12.5-13.5 kbar and 685-725 °C for the MT metagreywacke, and 15-16 kbar and 825-835 °C for the HT one. Stage II is the post- Pmax decompression with heating or near-isothermal to Tmax stage and the Tmax conditions, constrained using the garnet compositions with maximum MgO, are 11 kbar and 760 °C for the MT metagreywacke, and ~12 kbar and 830-845 °C for the HT one. The modelled mineral assemblages at Tmax are garnet + biotite + K-feldspar + rutile + plagioclase ± ilmenite in the presence of melt for both types of metagreywacke, consistent with the petrographic observations. Stage III is the post- Tmax retrograde metamorphism, characterized by decompression and cooling. The modelling suggests that the melts with high Na/K ratios (1.7-5.2) have been produced during stages I and II, which could be responsible for the formation of sodium-rich leucogranites. This study and previous results indicate that the Higher Himalayan Crystallines in the EHS consist of MT- HP and HT- HP metamorphic units separated by a speculated tectonic contact. Petrological and structural discontinuities within the EHS cannot be easily interpreted with 'tectonic aneurysm' model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil cracks develop in paddy soils during wetting and drying (WD) cycles. Although changes in soil structure related to cracking have often been described as soil shrinkage, the relationship between soil shrinkage and cracking remains unclear. The objectives of this study were to investigate how WD cycles affect soil shrinkage and cracking and to establish a link between soil shrinkage in the laboratory and cracking in the field. Two paddy fields (one young paddy field and one old paddy field) were subjected to multiple WD cycles during rice growth. Soil cracks were photographed in the field and the area density (Dc), compactness of cracks (CP) and equivalent width (EW) of the cracks were analyzed. The shrinkage curves of soil cores that were sampled in the two paddy fields were determined after they were subjected to various laboratory-based simulated WD cycles (including variations in intensity, frequency and sequence). To estimate soil cracking, three parameterizations based on the shrinkage curves of the soil cores treated with non-predrying (Parameterization A), slight drying (Parameterization B) and intense drying (Parameterization C) were established. The YPF soil presented greater Dc and CP than the OPF soil (P < 0.05), whereas the OPF soil exhibited greater EW and coefficient of linear extensibility (P < 0.05). Area density was not only affected by the current soil water content or by the previous drying history. As the number of WD cycles increased, equivalent width generally increased, whereas CP decreased. The intensity of the WD cycles affected shrinkage more than the frequency or sequence. The fitted geometry factor, rs, decreased from Parameterization A to Parameterization C for both soils. The Dc values were more accurately estimated by using soil shrinkage curves that included the intensity of the WD cycles. Our results demonstrate that the soil shrinkage curve associated with rs can better predict cracking when the effects of WD cycles are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]